On November 15 Vans Warped Tour Tweeted out the end of an era. After the tour’s 24 year run the organization has finally thrown in the towel.
I’m sure this was the response of many, but I think the tour is not going to end in its entirety, I believe it will simply change.
In a statement by Kevin Lyman (Vans Warped Tour Founder) he said:
“I have been a very lucky person to have traveled across the country and sometimes around the world as one of the founders and producers of the Vans Warped Tour. Today, with many mixed feelings, I am here to announce that next year will be the final, full cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour. I sit here reflecting on the tour’s incredible history, what the final run means for our community, and look forward to what’s to come as we commemorate the tour’s historic 25th anniversary in 2019.”
What does he mean the 25th anniversary in 2019? If the tour is truly ending would there really be a 25th anniversary? Are we to be revisited by the ghost of Vans warped tour through random concert pop-ups and appearances? Rather than the end of an era, I believe the tour is transitioning into a resurrection.
This timeframe is perfect. It is at the time that many of us broke millennials (sorry if you don’t identify with labels) are becoming part of the workforce and don’t have as much time to attend concerts. We will have more money to spend on an outrageously priced throwback concert that makes us feel like a teenager again. We all know we love our throwbacks, the whole of the US market is trying to cater to the 90’s kids nostalgia.
Proof of our need and thirst for nostalgia is the outburst of people asking for My Chemical Romance to get back together for a final performance.
While I highly doubt the band will be getting back together after only 4 years, I could see them returning to the stage for multiple get-together shows or tours, especially since they are teasing us with album reboots (someone is running out of money). They did not appear to end on a bad note according to Rolling Stone (actually, speaking of things changing, the Rolling Stone is being sold by its founding editor this year) life just leads to changes.
So, do not be upset that Vans Warped tour is ending, be excited about the possibility of change and the future (and save your money for it). I believe we have not seen the last of this festival or My Chemical Romance.
-Wesley A. Gehman